FBI Nabs Eight On Gun Charges
Monday, July 29, 1996 3:49 pm EDT
BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) -- Eight people, including four alleged members
of the Washington State Militia, were being held today on explosives and
firearms charges after a series of weekend arrests, authorities said.
But the FBI today would not elaborate on the reasons behind the roundup,
except to say the arrests were not related to Saturday's bombing at
Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta.
FBI agent Burdena Pasenelli said there was "enough interest to law
enforcement it was necessary for us to respond and take these people off
the street."
On Sunday, Pasenelli announced the arrests of nine people, but he said
today that eight had been charged. Charlie Mandigo, assistant special
agent in charge of the Seattle FBI office, said the ninth person was
arrested on a Seattle misdemeanor warrant, unrelated to the explosives
investigation.
Those charged were identified as William Smith, about 60, Seattle; John
Irvin Pitner, 45, Deming; Judith Carol Kirk, 54, Seattle; John Loyd
Kirk, 56, Seattle; Richard Frank Burton Jr., 38, Seattle; Frederick
Benjamin Fisher, 61, Bellingham; Gary Marvin Kuehnoel, 48, Bellingham;
and Marlin Lane Mack, 24, Bellingham.
All are charged with conspiracy to make and possess explosive devices.
Kirks, Burton, Kuehnoel and Mack are accused of making and possessing
explosive devices, and Kuehnoel is charged with transfer and possession
of a machine gun.
Five of the group were arrested Saturday in Bellingham, about 80 miles
north of Seattle, while participating in a class on how to use
explosives, authorities said.
Pitner was arrested at his home in Deming by FBI agents posing as real
estate agents, according to his wife, Deborah.
Pitner, Mack, Kuehnoel and Fisher were members of an antigovernment
group known as the Washington State Militia, authorities said.
Pitner's daughter, Rachel, told KOMO-TV in Seattle that she asked her
father, "How can they take you away? You've been praised as (having) one
of the mellowest movements in the area."
KIRO-TV reported that two houses in the Seattle area were searched as
part of the investigation.
There have been four bombings since April 1 in Spokane, at the far
eastern end of the state. Authorities said today they still were
investigating whether any of the eight could have been involved in any
of them.
No one was injured in any of the Spokane bombings. Two pipe bombs
exploded at a newspaper office and a bank April 1, and the bank also was
robbed. On April 29, a pipe bomb packed with 3-inch nails exploded at
Spokane City Hall. On July 12, there was a pipe bombing at a Planned
Parenthood clinic and another bank robbery.
(c) Copyright 1996 The Associated Press